Man United 2-1 Leicester City: The Talking Points on opening night

August 10, 2018

Manchester United started the 2018/ 2019 Premier League season with a 2-1 win over Leicester City at Old Trafford and contributing writer, Nathan Quao, of Citi Sports, Accra, Ghana, picks out the salient points from the first 90 minutes of the season.

Pogba was top stuff

Paul Pogba and his relationship with the manager, Jose Mourinho, was part of the headlines and many were wondering what the player would show especially when there was talk of interest from Barcelona and his perceived unhappy state.

He was handed the captain armband for the first game and he demonstrated a captain’s performance. He covered ground, sprayed passes, and threw himself about to lead the way for his mates to follow.

He was seen urging them on, making himself heard and trying to get them going.

And he scored a very cool, fancy penalty to get off the mark in a season that follows his exploits at the 2018 World Cup.

What is next then? Consistency. Pogba needs to give such performances every week and he must make this team his. He has the tools to make it happen and his confidence is a major weapon he should deploy and his team mates need to feel that they can depend on him to show his brilliance throughout the season.

The need for improvement is urgent

Despite Pogba’s output, it was glaring that the Red Devils were not operating at their best levels and had the opposition been better across 90 minutes, the 2-1 win would probably go to the visitors.

Man United looked leggy often and the passing was not crisp enough to make potential openings count for the team.

It is unclear what was slowing the team but large spells of the first half were played on the back foot. There was not enough movement and the drive to exploit counter attacks was lacking.

The situation improved in the second half and one could see that there was a bit of an edge to what was happening on the pitch.

No one knows how the manager will deal with this problem but things will have to get better before the season clicks into gear because at that point, the opposition would be in a better groove and their instincts would be sharpened to punish without delay.

Fred and Shaw thrive as Sanchez stalls

Man United newbie, Fred, left fans saying that he would help matters in midfield with his output. He looked lively and always wanted to get on the move. His tackling will need some polishing but that is not his biggest strength.

However, it was clear that he felt the full blast of the Premier League’s demands of physicality and pace.

He was seen panting heavily after about half an hour into the game but he soon got about doing his work.

He will certainly show more in coming games but he will need the presence of Nemanja Matic. The Serbian’s absence was too visible and the Man United central midfield area will need to find something to make up for that. If Leicester City could find spaces and utilise them to build attacks, then teams of better quality will make so much profit given the same circumstances.

Luke Shaw played out one of his best performances and he got a goal for his efforts. It is a goal that should do two things for the player. First, he should remind himself that he if he stays focused and applies himself, he will get to a good level.

The second reminder is that he can actually score and he should seek to see if he can chip in with a few during the season. The key part of the goal is Shaw’s act of watching Leicester goalie, Kasper Schmeichel’s, position before striking the ball. More of such awareness in good areas will serve Shaw well.

But while we praise Fred and Shaw, we need to point out that Sanchez was poor. He did the difficult things well but the final pass that was to open channels and spaces was very absent and the pattern repeated itself throughout the game.

The only pass that got through went to Lukaku but his shot was saved by Schmeichel.

A lot is expected of the Chilean this season. He got his summer rest for the first time in years. He had pre-season under his belt so the display against Leicester was below the required level and he must quickly improve.

The holiday period is over.

A winning start was important

With everything said and done, starting on a winning note was very important. The pressure of needing to win is gone and now, the team can focus on adding to its first three points.

The players should feel that if they apply themselves, the results will come. They need not place too much pressure on themselves to do the spectacular. They should try and play their best and get the victories.

They will breed confidence and that will bring the swagger.

Everyone always remembers the winners after 90 minutes and that should guide the team as they try to iron out the chinks and get another good season under their belts.

39 Comments

Sanchez should be earning his millions on the RW. Most overrated player in years. Dunno where is all that PR coming from about him being the next Zlatan or next best thing after Messi and CR7. He's a good player and best and inconsistent. Should have been dropped long time ago but hey, not how it works with the Virus.

B_United
Exactly! Way off the mark, but it's the first game, fitness is low, 4/5 key first team players missing.. yet we saw a spark.. the potential to be the team we want them to be, the team we need them to be and the team we know they can be!

I would say it is time to stop playing Tony (He's 33!!!) and Young (33!!!) , give youth a chance. Keep Fellaini, Matic, Sanchez benched unless the team is not doing well until 60th minute..

And frankly would not touch Bailly/Lindelof partnership, one non-nonsense and other one supposedly good with the ball at his feet. Lets give them a shot, we know what Smalling and Jones can or cannot do already, no it is time to determine who will be deadwood next summer.

Agree that Mata needs to play but hes slow and should be playing enganache in the middle, Sanchez can use his pace on either wing instead. Martial has to play to explore and use his talent.

This is our future hopefully assuming we get proper expansive game from our wingbacks..

If by some miracle that back 4 can stay fit.. and José manages/rotates the attack well.. combined with the fact we have the deepest, most complete set of midfielders in the world.. and if we play on the front foot, the sky will be the limit for us!

Good to get the 3 points.
It's difficult to read a lot into what was essentially a preseason warm up game for some of the squad.
There were still glimpses of hope from those that will get a chance this season and should take it.
Perreira Shaw and Lindelof took their opportunities well.
Rash may be excused for being semi late to preseason too, but there is still a lot to improve on his game.

There were also a few " worries"- the right side of our team, and Alexis passing...

Fred did well on his debut. During the game I thought he misplaced too many passes but I was surprised to find out he had a 92 % pass completion rate. Given that he sort to pass forwards, that was a good omen.
DeGea, Bailly, Pogba were their usual top class, with just a few early season jitters.

What will I suggest to our head coach, just based on this game?

A. Keep the back 4 intact, except bring in Young at RB till Valencia/ Dalot are ready. Darmian is Italy bound. Let's do it now...

B. Move Alexis to the right, and let him compete with Lingard there. Let Martial start ahead of Rash on the left, with the latter also subbing in for Lukaku

C. Keep the 433 as is. When chasing the game, then drop one of them, and play a 2 man MF. Bring Mata on in the 10 position to open up small teams as plan B.

* You may go Fellaini instead as plan C if any one fancies 10 minutes of desperate hoofball [ I don't].

That will be the best use of our squad
( the manager, Woodward's , "take it or leave it" squad lol)

I've figured it out - we are no longer the Busby/Ferguson Manchester United - we are now the 1980's Inter/Ac Milan Juventus United, wherein teams as good as Leicester will come along and play us off the park for most of the game and lose! (We win) Not sure I like it but glad of the three points.

As usual, very good analysis and insightful. I have enjoyed reading your comments over the last couple of years.

What's your thoughts on a 3 5 2. I believe Sanchez is a better player in the middle making runs wide and behind a CF.
Also I'm still not sure of the quality of our back 4. having 3 CB's and 2 WB's helping when we defend would give me less heart trouble. Maybe play Matic as the middle CB?

Our new Manager off to a winning start!

I bet Ed loves playing Football Manager both in his office and for real.

Too many players were under done and JM even said he wanted to change things but he was aware that Pogba, Rashford and Fred were going to struggle and needed to sub them.
The point he made was he wanted to bring on Martial to stretch them and catch them wide as they were pushing FB forward but the need to keep subs for the 3 WC players hamstrung him.

I am expecting better football after the international break (already, seriously!)

Sánchez can do better but he wasn't poor I don't think. And he should have had an assist as well.

It may have been the right formation for this game, but I hope we won't be stuck in the 433 (or 4231) all season. 532 and 4222 suit us much better, as we can get around not having that many out-and-out wingers in our squad, as well as these formations making more room for our pool of forwards.

Schweinsteiger was a decent right sided midfielder who became an excellent deep playmaker.
The coaching staff have seen something in him, some of us may not have noticed.
Perreira gives us a different look there .
Let him play there!

u24
it is not a good idea. end of story. why are we so insistent on plugging round holes with square pegs? Would you find ramsey, pogba, silva or kdb playing there because it gives a different look?
He doesn't have the requirements for a holding MF. all you nned to do is compare him to other holding mf's and its clear as day. you can start with matic and enlighten yourself

What are the requirements of a " holding midfielder" ?
Makelele, Dunga, Kante, Pirlo or Kroos ?

There are variations.
Even if you judge him by just the one game, do yourself a favor and go look up his stats for the game.
Passing, tackles, interceptions etc.
Don't let your eyes deceive you, or preconceived notions mislead you.

He plays the " role" very well.
And has done so virtually EVERYTIME he has played there...

really, anderson? how you can use ando as an example with a straight face is beyond me.
basti played rb even early on in his career and his all round game just meant he'd be drafted inward at some point, which correct me if i'm wrong happened soon enough. anyone could see he was always going to play midfield.
Anyway you dice it Pereira is best used elsewhere . lol anderson. why didn't you use alan smith as an example?
Paying plenty of attention . it seems you're the one that's not. my OP implied going forward not the actual game last night . but to answer your question anyway i thought Fred may have been better suited

Yes, I said Fergie's Anderson.
You have a problem with the managers' conversion of him into a deep lying midfielder, or his usefulness for us [ until he had fitness issues, which was an indictment in him, not his manager ]?
Go ask Gerard, and also the Arsenal team that got whipped 8-2 at Old Trafford

ha mikel! the same mikel who fergie bought as an attacking midfielder following his exploits at the youth world cup. he was runner up to messi by the way as player of the tournament . That same mikel, who was in turn broken into a cdm by jose? arguments you present are not aiding your case mate.

Yes. You haven't noted the similarities?
Anderson excelled in world youth cup as an attacking player. Converted as a secondary deep playing midfielder [ Carrick is main man].
Wins premier league multiple times, plays a part in champions league including final and wins it.

Mikel. Excelled as attacking MF in world youth cup, converted as secondary midfielder [ Makelele and later Essien are main men, the latter hampered by injuries] wins.....as above.

Perreira. Excels as attacking MF in world youth cup, now United 's secondary deep MF [ Matic is the senior option]....

Regarding pereira in deeper role, quite liked it, good work with pogs and Fred, and pereira better at moving ball and moving with it (Atleast the 1 game) than probably matic is, will just need match and training experience really while matic I suppose for more defensive match

I like Pereira in the deeper role but as a creative player not a defensive one..
I think the ideal midfield would be Pereira, Matic and Pogba..
I see Pereira as more of a Kroos, Modric, DeBruyne type of player.. they play deep but aren't the defensive midfielders in their sides..